Nightmare on the underground as drivers prepare to strike

Commuters
are bracing themselves for another day of travel disruption on the tube
tomorrow, when members of the RMT and Aslef unions take strike action over pay.

London
Underground has offered a 4 per cent pay increase for train drivers, but the
unions are demanding 9.7 per cent.

Derek
Smith, LU’s chairman, said, "These strikes have little support – less than
38 per cent of Aslef members and fewer than 29 per cent of those in RMT.

"The
claim is outrageous and will not be met. They know the 4 per cent deal they
have is one of the best in Britain. It takes a train driver on to a near
£29,000 basic for a 35-hour week. Try telling the person next to you that’s a
bad deal."

RMT
assistant general secretary Bob Crow said the union regretted having to resort
to strike action and labelled LU’s approach to the negotiations as
"utterly shambolic".

By Ben Willmott